Zip code 79720: Big Spring, Texas

Q: What city is zip code 79720?

79720 is assigned to Big Spring, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 79720 in?

79720 is mostly in Howard County, but it extends into 3 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 79720?

About 29,936 people live in 79720, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 79720?

The median household income in 79720 is $68,785.

Q: What zip codes are near 79720?

The closest zip codes to 79720 are 79721, 79733, 79748, 79749, 79511.

Residential delivery areaHoward CountyCentral Time

Population

29,936

Median household income

$69K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$153K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,032/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

37.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

986 sq mi

30 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 79720

79720 is a rural zip code in Big Spring, Texas (Howard County), covering 986 sq mi of land. About 29,936 people live here, or 30 per square mile. The median resident is 37.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $68,785 a year, 15% below the national median of $80,734. 14.6% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $152,500, or 2.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 69% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,032 a month.

16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 21.8 minutes each way, and 3% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in construction and repair; healthcare; and management. 33% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 79720 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Government workers23.7%
93rd
U.S. 14.5% · TX 14.1%277th of 1,810 in TX
Uninsured rate14.4%
87th
WeaknessU.S. 8.4% · TX 17.1%1,024th of 1,808 in TX
Housing vacancy13.3%
83rd
U.S. 10.1% · TX 9.4%810th of 1,794 in TX
Healthcare workers11.6%
78th
U.S. 9.7% · TX 8.6%331st of 1,810 in TX
Diversity index58.5
69th
U.S. 61.4 · TX 67.1491st of 1,818 in TX
Poverty rate14.6%
68th
U.S. 12.5% · TX 13.8%731st of 1,794 in TX
Income inequality (Gini)0.448
61st
U.S. 0.483 · TX 0.478667th of 1,785 in TX
Unemployment rate5.4%
59th
U.S. 5.2% · TX 5.3%666th of 1,810 in TX
Rent-burdened renters51.9%
55th
U.S. 51.1% · TX 51.7%658th of 1,692 in TX
Median earnings per worker$49,264
53rd
U.S. $49,666 · TX $47,575612th of 1,794 in TX
Homeownership rate69.2%
51st
U.S. 65.2% · TX 62.6%1,124th of 1,792 in TX
Population29,936
49th
U.S. 334,922,499 · TX 30,188,424390th of 1,818 in TX
Foreign-born residents9.7%
49th
U.S. 14.1% · TX 17.6%831st of 1,818 in TX
Veterans5.7%
48th
U.S. 6.2% · TX 6.2%1,032nd of 1,818 in TX
Residents under 1821.6%
45th
U.S. 22% · TX 25%1,172nd of 1,818 in TX
Median age37.3
37th
U.S. 38.9 · TX 35.6991st of 1,817 in TX
Self-employed workers8.3%
37th
U.S. 10% · TX 10.5%1,314th of 1,810 in TX
Median household income$68,785
34th
U.S. $80,734 · TX $78,476897th of 1,712 in TX
Per capita income$34,930
34th
U.S. $44,673 · TX $40,752848th of 1,813 in TX
Residents 65 and older13.4%
26th
U.S. 17.2% · TX 13.4%1,190th of 1,818 in TX
Median gross rent$1,032
23rd
U.S. $1,413 · TX $1,403963rd of 1,511 in TX
Average commute21.8 min
22nd
U.S. 26.4 min · TX 26.7 min1,311th of 1,738 in TX
Tech workers1.4%
20th
U.S. 3.8% · TX 3.8%896th of 1,810 in TX
Broadband access86.1%
15th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · TX 91.4%1,140th of 1,792 in TX
Bachelor's degree or higher15.7%
11th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · TX 33.8%1,279th of 1,811 in TX
Median home value$152,500
10th
U.S. $332,700 · TX $283,8001,222nd of 1,679 in TX
Population density30/sq mi
4th
U.S. 95/sq mi · TX 116/sq mi1,191st of 1,818 in TX
Work from home3.1%
3rd
U.S. 15.1% · TX 14.4%1,510th of 1,810 in TX

Measure	79720	Howard	TX	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in TX
Government workers	23.7%	24.8%	14.1%	14.5%	93rd	277th of 1,810
Uninsured rateWeakness	14.4%	13.6%	17.1%	8.4%	87th	1,024th of 1,808
Housing vacancy	13.3%	13.2%	9.4%	10.1%	83rd	810th of 1,794
Healthcare workers	11.6%	12.4%	8.6%	9.7%	78th	331st of 1,810
Diversity index	58.5	58.3	67.1	61.4	69th	491st of 1,818
Poverty rate	14.6%	13.8%	13.8%	12.5%	68th	731st of 1,794
Income inequality (Gini)	0.448	0.449	0.478	0.483	61st	667th of 1,785
Unemployment rate	5.4%	5.4%	5.3%	5.2%	59th	666th of 1,810
Rent-burdened renters	51.9%	50.8%	51.7%	51.1%	55th	658th of 1,692
Median earnings per worker	$49,264	$49,655	$47,575	$49,666	53rd	612th of 1,794
Homeownership rate	69.2%	69.5%	62.6%	65.2%	51st	1,124th of 1,792
Population	29,936	32,290	30,188,424	334,922,499	49th	390th of 1,818
Foreign-born residents	9.7%	9.8%	17.6%	14.1%	49th	831st of 1,818
Veterans	5.7%	5.9%	6.2%	6.2%	48th	1,032nd of 1,818
Residents under 18	21.6%	22.6%	25%	22%	45th	1,172nd of 1,818
Median age	37.3	36.7	35.6	38.9	37th	991st of 1,817
Self-employed workers	8.3%	8.8%	10.5%	10%	37th	1,314th of 1,810
Median household income	$68,785	$69,649	$78,476	$80,734	34th	897th of 1,712
Per capita income	$34,930	$34,939	$40,752	$44,673	34th	848th of 1,813
Residents 65 and older	13.4%	13.4%	13.4%	17.2%	26th	1,190th of 1,818
Median gross rent	$1,032	$1,034	$1,403	$1,413	23rd	963rd of 1,511
Average commute	21.8 min	21.7 min	26.7 min	26.4 min	22nd	1,311th of 1,738
Tech workers	1.4%	1.4%	3.8%	3.8%	20th	896th of 1,810
Broadband accessWeakness	86.1%	86.4%	91.4%	91%	15th	1,140th of 1,792
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	15.7%	15.7%	33.8%	35.7%	11th	1,279th of 1,811
Median home value	$152,500	$155,600	$283,800	$332,700	10th	1,222nd of 1,679
Population density	30/sq mi	36/sq mi	116/sq mi	95/sq mi	4th	1,191st of 1,818
Work from home	3.1%	3%	14.4%	15.1%	3rd	1,510th of 1,810

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

16%

5–17

18–24

15%

25–34

15%

35–44

14%

45–54

12%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

37.3

Under 18

21.6%

65 and over

13.4%

Race and ethnicity

White43%
Black5%
Hispanic47%
Asian1%
Native American0.3%
Pacific Islander0.0%
Other0.2%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

58.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

9.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

73.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

67%

Spanish

31%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.9%

Other

0.1%

Households

Households: 11,578
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 62.8%
Married couples: 43.4%
Living alone: 33.4%
Veterans (of adults): 5.7%
Male / female: 56% / 44%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

18%

$25–50k

20%

$50–75k

17%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

15%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

79720

$68,785

Howard Co.

$69,649

Texas

$78,476

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$34,930

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

14.6%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

17%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.448

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

79720

$152,500

Howard Co.

$155,600

Texas

$283,800

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

79720

$1,032

Howard Co.

$1,034

Texas

$1,403

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

78%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.6%

Housing units: 13,360
Owner-occupied: 69.2%
Vacant: 13.3%
Median year built: 1966
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 51.9%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 20.3%
Home value to income: 2.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

78%

Carpooled

17%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.1%

Worked from home

Other

0.8%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

28%

10–19

39%

20–29

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

21.8 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

5.4%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

55.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Construction and repair

14%

Healthcare

12%

Management

10%

Office and admin

10%

Transportation and moving

Sales

Education

Cleaning and personal care

Production

Food service

Business and finance

Police and fire

Arts, media and sports

Legal and social services

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.9%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

17%

Agriculture and mining

11%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

11%

Education

10%

Retail

10%

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Other services

Manufacturing

Professional and technical services

Admin, support and management

Finance, insurance and real estate

Wholesale

Information

Arts and recreation

0.6%

Median earnings per worker

$49,264

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

8.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

23.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

3.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	79720	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$64,380	$74,888
Service	$27,604	$26,804
Sales and office	$37,792	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$62,241	$49,199
Production and transportation	$53,450	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

19%

High school

33%

Some college

24%

Associate's

Bachelor's

11%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 81.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 15.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.1%
Households with broadband: 86.1%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 62.7%
No internet access: 11.9%
Without health insurance: 14.4%
Limited-English households: 4.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Big Spring
State: Texas
County: Howard County
Center point: 32.2000° N, 101.5048° W
Land area: 986 sq mi
Water area: 3.1 sq mi
Time zone: Central Time (UTC-6, UTC-5 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

79720 spans 4 counties

Howard County55% of land
Glasscock County35% of land
Borden County6% of land
Martin County4% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Big Spring2% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 79720

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
79721	Big Spring, TX	2.2 mi	352	—	—
79733	Forsan, TX	10 mi	371	$92,950	—
79748	Knott, TX	16 mi	232	—	$390,900
79749	Lenorah, TX	20 mi	477	$34,286	$182,100
79511	Coahoma, TX	21 mi	1,811	$117,578	$264,400
79782	Stanton, TX	22 mi	3,867	$102,986	$171,000
79713	Ackerly, TX	25 mi	840	$64,886	$149,200
79565	Westbrook, TX	27 mi	202	—	$103,800
79739	Garden City, TX	30 mi	780	$79,352	$258,000
79783	Tarzan, TX	33 mi	113	$128,516	—
79705	Midland, TX	33 mi	46,653	$105,310	$351,700
79527	Ira, TX	36 mi	219	$63,333	$131,300

Zip codes like 79720 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 79720

What city is zip code 79720?

79720 is assigned to Big Spring, Texas. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 79720 in?

79720 is mostly in Howard County, but it extends into 3 other counties.

What is the population of 79720?

About 29,936 people live in 79720, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 79720 in?

79720 is in Central Time.

What is the median household income in 79720?

The median household income in 79720 is $68,785.

What zip codes are near 79720?

The closest zip codes to 79720 are 79721, 79733, 79748, 79749, 79511.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 79720, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.